Casa Hickju Christmas 2011: Scenes of the Season (Thus Far)

Because nothing says Christmas in Appalachia like one of the Duke boys.

Yesterday (a half day) was my last day in the office until Tuesday, so I am now able to feel like Christmas is really ON for our family. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve been crazy busy shopping, wrapping, shipping and a-caroling around the house, but it’s been on a part time basis. Now that I’m done at work until next week, I can relax and fully release my inner Christmas geek.

However, even though I’ve been “doing Christmas” on a less than full time basis until yesterday, we’ve still managed to have some fun in the last week or two, as the kids have gotten more into the spirit. So I thought I’d share some of my favorite photos of our family’s Christmas activities thus far.

And here they are….

C (in crown) as wise man 1 of 16

C and cousin NC are in the same 4 year old class at the sweet little preschool that big brother E and several of the older cousins have all attended. This week was the preschool Christmas program, and C played one of the wise men. Here she is delivering her gift to Baby Jesus.

E and C show off gingerbread house success 2 of 16

We once again this year purchased those "gingerbread house in a box" kits to try, and unlike in years past, we had great success! These are the two that E and his same age cousin El made the other night. E's is on the left, and to say he was proud of his handiwork would be quite the understatement ;-)

E, hard at work on his gingerbread masterpiece 3 of 16

E is very competitive, and so since his cousin El was ALSO working on a gingerbread house at the same table, he was determined that his look the best.

Here are 3 of my kiddos + cousins + bonus kid 4 of 16

Here we have my J, C and E surrounded by cousins NC, M and El, along with one of our family's favorite "bonus kids," N, who is one of J's best friends since kindergarten.

This is the ornament for Henry this year 5 of 16

I bought a peace symbol ornament for each of Henry's younger siblings and his three younger Knoxville cousins to decorate to remember Henry this year. I plan to do this every year going forward, with a different ornament each year.

The front gate of Casa Hickju 6 of 16

E in Christmas socks dangling baby elf 7 of 16

Yes, I told him to stop doing this, even though his little sister was begging him to continue doing it to her.

Four year old cousins C and NC on the Christmas train at the mall 8 of 16

C as wise man at the preschool Christmas pageant this week 9 of 16

Georgia’s 2011 ornament 10 of 16

I get each of my own children, plus my nieces and nephews a special new ornament each year. This is Danger Baby's ornament for 2011.

Because nothing says Christmas in Appalachia like one of the Duke boys 11 of 16

Our 101 year old Knoxville, TN house is a veritable treasure trove of goodness. Take, for example, this awesome Dukes of Hazzard trading card that Jon found inside a wall this week while he was working on some wiring. It now occupies a place of honor in our Christmas village. Because nothing says Christmas in Applachia like one of the Duke boys.

J turned 16 this year, so this is her 2011 ornament 12 of 16

Henry’s stocking, hung with his younger siblings’ 13 of 16

My grandmother knitted Henry's stocking for him while I was still pregnant.

E brings in the tree 14 of 16

This year’s holiday card from Henry’s Fund 15 of 16

A POSSUM ANGEL ornament 16 of 16

My friend Georgia sent us this to, ahem, commemorate our battles with possums during 2011

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